Terms of use

Last updated October 28, 2026

These terms cover your use of tradesprimer.com. "Trades Primer", "we" and "us" mean this site. By using the site you agree to them; if you don't, please don't use it.

What this site is

Trades Primer is a free reference for the construction trades: pay, training, state license rules, lien deadlines, and a lookup of contractor license records copied from state licensing boards' public files.

The official source controls

Each page names the public source it was copied from and the date we read it. Boards and legislatures change rules, fees and license statuses at any time, so our copy can fall behind, and it can have mistakes. Where this site and the official source disagree, the official source is right. Check it before you hire someone, file a lien, sign a contract or pay a fee.

The site and everything on it is provided "as is" and "as available", without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including warranties of accuracy, completeness, timeliness, merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

Not advice

Nothing on the site is legal, tax, financial or other professional advice, and using it doesn't create any professional relationship with us. Lien rights in particular turn on the facts of your job, so for a real deadline talk to a lawyer licensed in that state.

Calculators give estimates

The lien deadline calculator and other tools give an estimate from what you enter and the rules as we last read them. They can't see your contract, notices or court rules. Confirm the date with the statute or a lawyer before you rely on it.

Not a consumer reporting agency

Trades Primer is not a consumer reporting agency, and the license records here are not consumer reports under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Don't use them to decide whether a person is eligible for employment, credit, insurance, housing or any other purpose the Act covers. For those decisions, use the licensing board's own records and follow the law that applies to you.

Records about individuals

Some licenses are held by people rather than companies. For those, we show only what the board publishes about the license: the name, city, license classes, status and expiry date. We don't show a home address, phone number or email.

If a record is about you, email corrections@tradesprimer.com with the state and license number and tell us whether you want it reviewed or removed. A business license record stays up while the board publishes it, but we review every request about an individual. A wrong status or date has to be fixed by the board; our copy changes with its next file.

Using the site

You're welcome to read, link to and quote the site. Please don't:

• scrape or download the site in bulk in a way that slows it down or harms it;
• use names or other details from the records to send spam, harass anyone, or discriminate unlawfully;
• use the site to break the law, or try to break into or disrupt it.

We can block access that does any of these.

Links to other sites are there for your convenience. We don't control those sites and aren't responsible for them.

Limitation of liability

To the extent the law allows, Trades Primer is not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive damages, or for lost profits, revenue or data, that come from using the site or relying on its information. Our total liability for any claim about the site is limited to the greater of $100 or the amount you paid us in the 12 months before the claim. Some states don't allow some of these limits, so they may not all apply to you.

Corrections and contact

If something on the site is wrong, see Corrections or email corrections@tradesprimer.com. Our privacy page explains what we collect.

Changes and governing law

We may update these terms. When we do, the date at the top changes, and using the site after that means you accept the new version. These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Colorado, without regard to its conflict-of-law rules.